Former Villa captain Dennis Mortimer and current boss Paul Lambert dined in an executive box at Villa Park

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Paul Lambert invited Villa’s European Cup legends to dinner to celebrate their famous achievement and underline his interest in the club’s history.

Lambert dined with former captain Dennis Mortimer and the claret and blue heroes of 1982 in an executive box at Villa Park on Tuesday night.

Villa’s current boss, who enjoyed Champions League glory himself with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, says the glory of lifting club football’s greatest prize should never be forgotten.

“Any football club that wins the European Cup is held in the highest esteem – and any player that’s won it,” said Lambert, who also requested to meet Mortimer before Villa’s last home game – the 3-2 victory over Manchester City.

“There are not many players that do it. It’s the greatest club competition going, always will be. It’s a difficult thing to do, winning the European Cup.

“Eras go differently but it should never ever be forgotten what’s happened.

“It’s an incredible achievement for the group of lads that did it all those years ago. I think it’s important that the football cub does recognise their achievement.

“It’s a special team that did it all that time ago. I’ve met some of them before but I’d not met all of them.”

Lambert himself is always well looked after when he returns to Dortmund and met up with his former team-mates ahead of their Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich at Wembley at the end of last season.

“I was fortunate enough to play with really successful players and clubs,” said Lambert. “The times I’ve gone back to Dortmund most of the players have always turned up.

“The same at Celtic and the game for Stiliyan the other week is the prime example. When you have success it’s a special era. You try to meet up but you never milk it or think it’s the be-all and end-all because eras move on.

“It’s always good to see guys I haven’t seen for a long time. We still have good conversations when we meet up.”